Titus - 6

A Study Of The Book Of Titus.

Lesson 6 Chapter 1:10 – 16

By Pastor Randy Johnson

1. Verse 10 “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:”
1. “For there are many unruly…” – An unruly person in the church would be someone out of order. – This is a person who does not respect the law of God. – It could be someone speaking, holding small meetings outside of the church, it could be a woman speaking in the church service, or etc.

a. Romans 16:17 - 18 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (18.) For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

b. 1 Timothy 6:3 - 5 "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; (4.) He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, (5.) Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."

c. God has laws and rules for church members and if they fail to follow them then they are out of order.

2. “…and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:”

a. vain talkers – would be a person who speaks empty or void things, one who speaks of lies as though they are truth.

b. Deceivers – this is defined as - a mind misleader, that is, seducer

c. specially they of the circumcision – This is defined as those who want to keep the law for salvation. Circumcision was never and never will be part of salvation, just as works is not today and those that teach it are deceivers. Acts 15:24 "Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:"

d. Galatians 2:3 - 4 "But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: (4.) And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:"

2. Verse 11 “Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.”
1. Whose mouths must be stopped – they must be stopped, not allowed to become a teacher, or an assistant Pastor, or upheld but stopped.
2. The reason is “who subvert whole houses” the word subvert means – to overturn – they will destroy the Lords churches if they are not stopped. We stop them but what will God do to them - Matthew 23:14 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” - Psalms 63:11 “But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.”
3. teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. – Money or glory is always the bottom-line. The words filthy lucre's means – shameful gain – therefore it can cover a wide range of gains. Micah 3:4 - 5 "Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. (5.) Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him." - 1 Timothy 6:5 - 6 "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (6.) But godliness with contentment is great gain."
3. Verse 12 “One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.”
1. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own – The word prophet here means - a foreteller; that is an inspired speaker; and by extension a poet –

a. Most commentators agree this was Epimenides, in whose poems stand the words here cited; the apostle rightly calls him "one of themselves", since he was a Cretian by birth, of the city of Gnossus. Here is his writing “They fashioned a tomb for thee, O holy and high one The Cretans, always liars, evil beasts, idle bellies! But thou art not dead: thou livest and abidest forever, For in thee we live and move and have our being. — Epimenides, Cretica - Acts 17:28 “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

b. It sounds like this poet was quoted more than once.

2. said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.”

a. The Cretians are alway liars – not sometimes, not most of the time, but always. These Cretians were such liars that even their heathen poets laughed at them. 2 Peter 2:15 “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”

b. evil beasts – means - Rude, cruel, and brutal meaning beasts of prey, savage in nature – This same poet was also said to be quoted saying “Crete was a country without wild beasts.” Meaning human inhabitants supplied the place of wild beasts.”

c. slow bellies – means - idle-bellies and it gives the correct idea, idle gluttons. John Gill said “the Cretians are called, by the poet, slow bellies partly for their intemperance, their gluttony and drunkenness: which suited with the false teachers, whose god was their belly, and which they served, and not the Lord Jesus; and partly for their sloth and idleness, eating the bread of others without working.” Philippians 3:19 “Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”

3. It may seem rude to speak of a people this way but let’s not forget this is Gods word which means it was inspired of Him to do so.